Wire fabric.



H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2. 1914.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wmew H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2. 1914.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HENRY RICHARDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WIRE FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, ieis.

Application filed. January 12, 1914. Serial No. 811,531. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RICHARDSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fabrics, and has reference more particularly to wire fabrics of the kind at present extensively used to form the bottoms of beds, couches, and like articles of furniture.

One type of bed and couch fabric now largely employed is characterized structurallv by the presence of parallel longitudinal strands composed of interhooked bent wire units or' links connected transversely at intervals by wire cross links. The interhooking of the links forming the longitudinal strands in this type of fabric creates a weakness at these points of connection, owing to the liability of the hooks to pull or straighten out under tension. This same weakness also inheres in fabrics wherein the end portions of the wire forming each link are connected merely by interengagiiig hooks on said ends or by a hook on one end engaging a loop on the other end, since in all such cases there is present in the link at or intermediate its ends one or more hooks having a free or unsecured bent portion in the direct line of longitudinal strain, the strength of which to resist tensional strains is far below the breaking point of the wire itself.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a new and improved link wire fabric structure of a type heretofore originated by me and which is especially characterized by the fact that it may be made of a considerably lighter gage of wire than was theretofore ossible. This object I accomplish by a novel structure of link and a novel connection of the links that entirely obviate the presence anywhere in the fabric of unsecured ends of loops or hooks in a line or lines of strain. proved fabric dispenses with the use of separate cross-links connecting adjacent longi tudinal strands, and lends itself well to the employment of integral cross-arms which serve all the purposes of separate cross-links and simplify and cheapen the constructionf In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention in several slightly varied forms; and referring thereto Figure Furthermore, my im-- 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a Wire fabric for bed and couch bottoms em bodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspec tive detail from the upper side of a portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Fig. 1, of a variation of the fabric of the latter figure. Fig. at is a perspective detail from the upper side of a portion of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of another variation. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail from the upper side of a portion of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail from the under side of a portion of the fabric of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view ofanother variation. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail from the upper side of one of the links of the fabric of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of still another variation. Fig. 11 is a perspective detail from the upper side of one of the links of the fabric of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a perspective detail from the under side of a portion of the fabric of Figs. 10 and 11.

The novel fabric of my invention, in all of the forms illustrated, includes a plurality of links or units each composed of a single length of wire that is bent to provide the characteristic features, common to all of the forms shown, of a two-ply body member having closed ends, with the end portions of the wire interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the two-ply body member, one of said end portions extending thence laterally of the body member and formin an integral cross-arm for connection to a laterally adjacent link of the fabric, and the other of said end portions extending crosswise of the body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye, with the terminalportion of the wire forming said loop or eye clenched or otherwise anchored to the link itself. The outer or free end of the integral cross-arm is formed as a fixed loop and extends through the lateral loop or eye of a laterally adjacent link. The links of each longitudinal strand are flexibly connected end to end, preferably by a simple interlooping of the closed ends of their body members. v

In all the embodiments of the invention herein presented, the wire of which each main longitudinal link is composed is bent in such a manner as to provide a two-ply body or tension member 10 the limbs ofwhich are joined at one end preferablyby Ineansof a simple U-bend or loop 11, and

. of the Wire are interlockingly engaged with each other between the ends of the link and in the line of one limb of the body member,

and are thence extended laterally of the body member, one end portion forming the integral cross-arm and the other end portion forming the laterally extending loop or eye; said cross-arm and lateral loop or eye differing somewhat in respect to their forms and relations to the body members in the several embodiments of the invention presented.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 13 designates the crossarm which, in this case, constitutes, a substantially right-angle extension of the shorter portion'of one limb of the body member.

14: designates the laterally extending loop or eye herein. shown as constituting an extension of the longer portlon of the same limb of the body member and, at its junction with the body member interlockingly crossing the cross-arm 13 at the junction of the latter with the body member, as shown at 15. Both sides of the loop 14- cross and extend slightly beyond the side of the body member, and the extreme end portion of the wire forming the loop 14: is anchored or clenched beneath the body member as shown at 16 in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention presented in Figs. 3 and 4 the cross-arm 13 is formed as an extension of the longer portion of one limb of the body member, and the lateral loop let forms an extension of the shorter portionof the same limb of the body member. In this case the wire at the junctions of the lateral loop and cross-arm is carried around the inner end of the latter in the form of an eye 17, and the terminal portion of the lateral loop 14 is anchored or clenched beneath the body member as shown at 16.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 only in that the terminal portion of the wire forming the lateral loop 14', instead of being extended across and clenched beneath the body member of the link, is carried across said body member and then curled around and clenched to, the base of the cross-arm 13 as shown vIn the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the cross-arm 13 is formed aspa'lateral extension of the longer portion ofone limb of the body member, the same as in Figs. 3 and 4, but the two limbs of the body member are carried across each other by giving the loop 11 a half-twist, as shown at 19; and the lateral loop 14 is, at its free end, clenched beneath the body member above the cross-arm 18 and beneath the crossed portions of the limbs of the body member, as shown at 20 in Fig. 8).

The construction illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 differs from that of Figs. 8 and 9 only in that the lateral loop 14, instead of being carried across and clenched beneath the body member is carried across the body member and its free end is curled around and clenched to the base of the cross-arm 13 as shown at 21.

In all forms of the invention, the integral cross-arms terminate in. loops that pass through the laterally projecting loops or eyes of laterally adjacent links and have their free ends clenched to the bodies of the cross-arms, as shown at 23, to form lixed loops such as will not pull out under transverse strains on the fabric.

T he preferred manner in which the links or units are connected end to end in the fabric is clearly apparent from the drawings; the terminal bends or loops 11 and 12 of cndwise adjacent links being simply interlooped or carried through each other, in the manner most clearly illustrated in the perspective views, Figs. 2 and 1.

I claim 1. A wire link fabric including a plurality of links, each of said links consisting of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member the two limbs of which are united at both ends, and having one of the end portions of the wire extending laterally of the body member to form a cross-arm, and having the other end portion of the wire bent to interlockingly engage said cross-arm at its inner end and thence extended across 1 said body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye, the free end of the wire forming said loop or eye being secured to the link; said links being connected end to end in longitudinal rows and sidewise through engagement of their cross-arms and laterally projecting loops or eyes.

2. A wire link fabric, the longitudinal strands of which include a plurality of links connected end to end, each of said links consisting of a single length of wire bent to provide a two-ply body member one limb of which is formed by crossed and interlocked portions of the wire, the end portions of which wire are thence extended laterally in opposite directions, one of said end portions crossing the other limb of the body member and forming a laterally projecting loop or eye and having its free end secured to the link, and the other of said end portions forming a cross-arm for connection with another link in a laterally adjacent strand.

3. A wire link fabric, the longitudinal strands of which include a plurality of links interlooped end to end, each of said links consisting of a single length of wire bent to provide closed terminal loops and an intermediate two-ply body member, one limb of which body member is formed by crossed and interlocked portions of the wire, the end portions of which wire are thence extended laterally in opposite directions, one of said end portions crossing the other limb of the body member and forming a laterally projecting loop or eye and having its free end secured to the link, and the other of said end portions forming a cross-arm for connection with another link in a laterally adjacent strand.

4:. A wire link fabric including a plurality of links arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, each of said links consisting of a single length of wire bent to form a twoply body member the ends of which are formed as closed loops integrally joining the limbs of said body member, said length of wire having one of its end portions constituting an angular extension of one portion of one limb of said body member and forming a cross-arm terminating in a closed loop, and having the other of its end portions constituting an angular extension of the other portion of the same limb and extending across both limbs of the body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye with the free end thereof secured to the link, said end portions of the Wire interlockingly engaging each other at their junctions with the body member; the links of the longitudinal rows being interlooped end to end, and the links of the transverse rows having the terminal loops of their cross-arms extending through the laterally projecting loops or eyes of laterally adjacent links.

5. As an article of manufacture, a wire fabric link composed of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member with closed ends, and having one of its end portions extending laterally of the body member to form a cross-arm, and having its other end portion interlockingly engaged with said first-named end portion at their respective junctions with said body member and thence extended across said body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye, With the free end of the wire forming said loop or eye secured to the link.

6. As an article of manufacture, a Wire fabric link composed of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member with closed ends, and having one of its end portions constituting an angular extension of one portion of one limb of said body member and forming a cross-arm for connecting laterally adjacent strands, and having the other of its end portions constituting an angular extension of the other portion of the same limb and extending crosswise of said body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye, with the free end of the wire forming said loop or eye secured to the link.

7. As an article of manufacture, a wire fabric link composed of a single length of wire bent to form a two-ply body member having closed ends one of which is formed as a U-bend of the wire joining the two limbs of said body member and the other of which is formed as a tWoply loop the members of which are integrally joined across said body member, said length of wire further having one of its end portions constituting an extension of one portion of one limb of said body member bent at substantially a rightangle to the latter to form a cross-arm for connecting lateral adjacent strands, and having the other of its end portions constituting an extension of the other portion of the same limb bent at substantially a rightangle to the latter and extending cross-wise of said body member in the form of a laterally projecting loop or eye, said end portions of the Wire crossing each other at their junctions with the body member, and the free end of the wire forming said loop or eye being secured to the link.

HENRY RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, MARY M. LEPPO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

